Michael Madrid graduated from Eastern New Mexico University in 1998 with his bachelor’s in special education with a minor in history and physical education. Madrid later graduated with his master's in sports administration from the University in 2001. Madrid now works as the head women's basketball coach at Texas A&M Kingsville and has been there for the last six years.
Madrid was originally born in Fort Sumner, New Mexico, and moved to Portales in sixth grade. He graduated from Portales High School, and later began his education at ENMU. When Madrid started at the University, he did not intend to become a coach; he started as an accounting major. His passion for coaching was sparked by Scott Parker telling him about a volunteering position at Portales Junior High. After volunteering Madrid fell in love with coaching.
“I had a tremendous experience at Eastern,” he said. Madrid enjoyed the small-town environment at ENMU and how easy it was to develop relationships with professors and students. “Eastern was a great place with so many amazing people,” Madrid said. “You develop relationships with them, and I think that is one of the biggest things that’s helped me with my career.”
During Madrid’s senior year in college, the Portales High School (PHS) athletic director, Mark Gallegos, offered Madrid a coaching position. He continued his studies as a full-time graduate student while working as an assistant basketball coach. After coaching at PHS Madrid transitioned to several other high school coaching positions, eventually landing his first collegiate coaching job at Lubbock Christan University.
Once Madrid started coaching at the college level, he wanted to set his sights on a division II school where he could coach in the Lone Star Conference. The conference is where he found Texas A&M Kingsville, the home of his current coaching position. “Kingsville feels like Portales,” he said.
Madrid’s coaching career spans 29 years. Throughout his three decade long career, helping students remained a focal point of his work as a coach. Small communities and smaller student populations are important to Madrid. “It’s a way for me to give back and help our student athletes,” he said. Being able to see his student-athletes graduate is the most rewarding aspect of his work.
Madrid’s career and schooling represent a full-circle moment, extending the same advocacy and focus on student success he received during his education. “You have to take that leap of faith sometimes,” he said. “Trust your skills.” When Madrid is not coaching, he enjoys spending time with his wife and seven-year-old daughter. He hopes to travel more and visit Portales more frequently.
